April 2022 update… Move in Day! … and one year later.

“Chico’s emergency non-congregate housing site began its operations Monday, opening for the first time as a result of the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement.

The site, composed of 177 microshelters from the company Pallet, opened at 7:30 a.m. Monday, a long awaited service to provide housing for unhoused people or those at-risk of homelessness in Chico.

The first occupant was at the site by 11 a.m.” See the story at https://www.chicoer.com/2022/04/25/chico-pallet-shelters-get-first-occupant/.

Here’s another story… one year later: https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/local/a-look-at-chicos-pallet-shelter-one-year-after-opening/article_ca784c5a-e3e3-11ed-ae34-77ba81030e47.html.

Rick’s original comments….

From my experience sometimes doing something, even if it’s not the best thing, has the potential to bring about a good thing. From this non-lawyer’s perspective, the Chico city council began “solving” homelessness with a “stick” approach. Unfortunately, that approach apparently ran afoul of the constitution (according to Boise decision)…. The story unfolds with a lawsuit from some of Chico’s unhoused population to a settlement agreement in which 50 to 177 Pallet shelters will be provided. Which may be a good thing. We’ll see over time how the site is managed.

Two items from the settlement agreement (Document 153-1):

(1) “In entering into this Agreement, Defendants are not admitting any wrongdoing, liability or legal violations on their part and are not conceding the validity of any of Plaintiffs’ legal theories or claims” and (2) “The City shall pay Plaintiffs’ counsel a total of $650,000, comprising payment for Plaintiffs’ claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.” I could be way off base here but I’m guessing the City, the defendant, wouldn’t agree to pay Plaintiffs’ counsel this sum without being concerned they would lose at trial. I could be wrong….

From the Chico Enterprise-Record:
“With Chico’s non-congregate emergency housing site now accepting residents, let’s take a look back at a few of the actions that set the stage.

First, when the Chico Police Department informed campers at Comanche Creek Greenway in April 2021 they’d have 72 hours to vacate, some residents in Chico sighed in relief, having become fed up with the sight of homeless people in the parks. Other Chico residents saw it as a violation of human rights without adequate shelter space available within city limits.

What followed the 72-hour notice became a winding, strenuous, and delayed legal process with a lawsuit that, while largely settled, still has a few sticking points in terms of operating the shelter….” Read the story here and the settlement here.

To see the latest court documents on this case click here (some are available below).

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